Biology:Trachypora coral

Trachypora is a species of branching coral dating to the Late Devonian period 350 million years ago.

Identification

It is easily identified by its long, tube like structure with holes throughout its stem. Normally it is found in bits and pieces,it is not a common coral but can be found complete in the right areas. It is usually small, just a few inches long, and is common in some places yet absent in others, this leads many to believe that, like blastoids, trachypora lived in huge colonies. It is commonly found with bryzoans and crinoids, and lived in a reef environment and was a filter feeder. Many times you can find many individuals in the same rock. It is usually found in hash fossils as well, supporting the theory that it lived in reefs. It is common in limestone and thought to have lived only in oxygen rich waters.

References

• "A Complete Guide To Michigan Fossils" by Joseph Khodl